SOUTH BEND, IN – There's a reason why Scooter Bynum leads the Northern Illinois University baseball team in extra base hits, and the Fairbanks, Alaska native proved it Tuesday night against Notre Dame.

With the Huskies holding a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, Bynum gave NIU the cushion it needed as he laced a two-run double to left-center field. As a result, the Huskies snapped their eight-game losing streak with a 5-3 win, and defeated Notre Dame for the first time since the 1995 season.

"Tonight was a toughness test for this group," Huskies' head coach Mike Kunigonis said. "It was a cold, windy night and our guys really battled and overcame the conditions."

The victory also handed ND eighth-year head coach Mik Aoki his first loss in a home opener as Notre Dame fell to 8-11 on the year. NIU improved to 5-14.

After the Irish seized a 1-0 lead in the third inning, NIU came back with a pair of runs in the fifth to capture a 2-1 advantage. Freshman Alex Rodriguez (Cudahy, Wis./Cudahy) connected for his first career hit – an RBI single through the left side, allowing Tommy Szczasny (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) to score. Josh Mutter (Frankfort, Ill. /Lincoln-Way North) then gave the Huskies the lead when he drove in Kam Smith (Colonial Beach, Va./The Steward School) on an RBI sacrifice fly to center field.

Notre Dame tied it at 2-2 in the bottom half of the fifth on an RBI double, but NIU responded again in the sixth when Szczasny roped an RBI single to left field, plating Samuel Vega (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico/Southwestern Junior College), before Bynum came up with his clutch hit.

Although Tuesday's non-conference tilt wasn't the best defensive effort for the Huskies as they committed a season-high four errors, the pitching combination of Blake Walker (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard), Parker Kirkpatrick (Lawrence, Kan./Lawrence) and Andrew Frankenreider (Peoria, Ill./Dunlap) shut down Irish hitters. Kirkpatrick earned his first win of the season, and Frankenreider nailed down his first save as the trio combined for nine strikeouts.

"Blake, Parker and Frank were outstanding tonight," Kunigonis said. "It was an all-around great team effort."

Vega led the Huskies' offense with two hits, while Dunham, Szczasny, Smith, Bynum and Rodriguez each had a hit.

"We need to have a great week of practice and get ready for Central Michigan this weekend," Kunigonis said."

NIU opens Mid-American Conference play with the Chippewas this weekend with days and times yet to be determined, weather permitting.

--NIU--